Agro-Climatic Zones of India and the State

B. Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) Ist. Semester (Six Deam Commitee of ICAR)

Agro-Climatic Zones of India and the State

Introduction

India is a country of vast geographical area with diverse climatic conditions, topography, and soils. The variations in rainfall, temperature, altitude, and soil types have led to a wide range of agricultural practices and cropping patterns across different regions.
To ensure region-specific agricultural planning, India has been divided into Agro-Climatic Zones (ACZs) based on climate, soil, and physiography. This helps in promoting efficient resource utilization, balanced regional development, and sustainable agriculture.

Definition

Agro-Climatic Zone (ACZ): An Agro-Climatic Zone is a land unit defined in terms of its climate, soils, and physiographic characteristics, having a distinct potential for agriculture and other land uses.
In simple terms: It is an area having similar climate and soil conditions that support a particular type of crop production.

Objectives of Agro-Climatic Zonation

To ensure efficient utilization of natural resources (soil, water, vegetation).
To maximize agricultural productivity on a sustainable basis.
To assist in region-specific research and extension programs.
To promote balanced regional agricultural development.
To help in planning cropping patterns suitable for each zone.
To minimize risks from drought, flood, and climatic extremes.

Basis of Agro-Climatic Classification

The classification of India into Agro-Climatic Zones was done by considering the following parameters:

Climate: Temperature, rainfall, and humidity.
Soil type: Texture, depth, fertility, and drainage.
Topography: Plains, plateaus, hills, or coastal regions.
Length of Growing Period (LGP): Duration (in days) during which temperature and moisture are suitable for crop growth.
Cropping pattern and productivity.

Agro-Climatic Regions of India (Planning Commission, 1989)

The Planning Commission (1989) divided India into 15 Agro-Climatic Regions (ACRs) for effective resource-based planning. These regions were later subdivided into 131 Agro-Climatic Zones.
List of 15 Agro-Climatic Regions of India

Region No.	Agro-Climatic Region	Major States Covered	Dominant Crops
1	Western Himalayan Region	Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand	Maize, Wheat, Apple, Barley
2	Eastern Himalayan Region	Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland	Rice, Maize, Tea, Jute
3	Lower Gangetic Plain Region	West Bengal	Rice, Jute, Potato
4	Middle Gangetic Plain Region	Eastern U.P., Bihar	Rice, Wheat, Maize, Pulses
5	Upper Gangetic Plain Region	Western & Central U.P.	Wheat, Rice, Sugarcane
6	Trans-Gangetic Plain Region	Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi	Wheat, Rice, Cotton
7	Eastern Plateau and Hills Region	Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh	Rice, Pulses, Oilseeds
8	Central Plateau and Hills Region	M.P., Maharashtra	Soybean, Wheat, Pulses
9	Western Plateau and Hills Region	M.P., Maharashtra	Cotton, Groundnut, Sorghum
10	Southern Plateau and Hills Region	Karnataka, Tamil Nadu	Ragi, Pulses, Oilseeds
11	East Coast Plains and Hills Region	Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha	Rice, Groundnut, Coconut
12	West Coast Plains and Ghat Region	Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra	Rice, Coconut, Spices
13	Gujarat Plains and Hills Region	Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli	Cotton, Groundnut, Pearl millet
14	Western Dry Region	Rajasthan	Pearl millet, Mustard, Pulses
15	Island Region	Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep	Coconut, Arecanut, Spices

Agro-Climatic Zones of India (ICAR Classification, 1992)

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) divided India into 20 Agro-Climatic Zones, mainly based on soil type, rainfall, temperature, and physiography.

Zone No.	Agro-Climatic Zone (ICAR)	Major States	Average Rainfall (mm)	Major Crops
1	Western Himalayan Region	J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand	1200–2500	Maize, Apple, Wheat
2	Eastern Himalayan Region	NE States, Sikkim	2000–4000	Rice, Tea, Jute
3	Lower Gangetic Plains	West Bengal	1200–1500	Rice, Jute, Potato
4	Middle Gangetic Plains	Bihar, E. U.P.	1000–1400	Rice, Wheat, Pulses
5	Upper Gangetic Plains	W. U.P.	800–1000	Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane
6	Trans-Gangetic Plains	Punjab, Haryana, Delhi	400–800	Rice, Wheat, Cotton
7	Eastern Plateau & Hills	Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh	1200–1600	Rice, Pulses
8	Central Plateau & Hills	M.P., Maharashtra	900–1200	Soybean, Wheat
9	Western Plateau & Hills	M.P., Maharashtra	800–1000	Cotton, Sorghum
10	Southern Plateau & Hills	Karnataka, Tamil Nadu	700–1200	Ragi, Pulses
11	East Coast Plains & Hills	Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu	900–1200	Rice, Groundnut
12	West Coast Plains & Ghat	Kerala, Goa, Karnataka	2500–3500	Rice, Coconut, Spices
13	Gujarat Plains & Hills	Gujarat	700–1000	Cotton, Groundnut
14	Western Dry Region	Rajasthan	<400	Pearl millet, Mustard
15	Northern Dry Region	Haryana, Punjab (arid)	<500	Bajra, Pulses
16	Eastern Dry Zone	Karnataka	600–800	Finger millet, Pulses
17	Western Plain & Kutch	Gujarat, Rajasthan	<400	Cotton, Bajra
18	North Eastern Transition Zone	Assam, Meghalaya	1800–2500	Rice, Sugarcane
19	Island Zone	A&N Islands, Lakshadweep	2500–3000	Coconut, Arecanut
20	Western Coastal Region	Maharashtra, Goa	2000–3000	Rice, Fruits, Spices

Importance of Agro-Climatic Zonation

Helps in identifying suitable crops and cropping systems.
Facilitates efficient resource utilization (land, water, and nutrients).
Aids in formulating region-specific development plans.
Encourages balanced agricultural growth across regions.
Assists in climate-resilient agricultural planning.
Enables effective soil and water conservation measures.

Agro-Climatic Zones of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) is one of India’s most agriculturally diverse states, varying from humid Tarai regions in the north to semi-arid Bundelkhand in the south.
The state has been divided into 9 Agro-Climatic Zones by the Department of Agriculture, Government of U.P.

Zone No.	Agro-Climatic Zone	Districts Covered (Examples)	Major Crops	Rainfall (mm)
I	Tarai and Bhabar	Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich	Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane	1300–1500
II	Western Plain Zone	Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat	Sugarcane, Wheat, Rice	900–1100
III	Mid-Western Plain Zone	Aligarh, Etah, Hathras	Wheat, Mustard, Barley	850–1000
IV	South-Western Semi-Arid Zone	Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun	Pulses, Oilseeds, Sorghum	700–900
V	Central Plain Zone	Lucknow, Unnao, Kanpur	Rice, Wheat, Gram	900–1000
VI	Bundelkhand Zone	Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur	Groundnut, Pigeon pea, Wheat	700–850
VII	North-Eastern Plain Zone	Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar	Rice, Maize, Sugarcane	1200–1500
VIII	Eastern Plain Zone	Ballia, Azamgarh, Mau	Rice, Wheat, Maize	1000–1200
IX	Vindhyan Zone	Mirzapur, Sonbhadra	Pulses, Oilseeds, Sorghum	800–1000

Significance of Agro-Climatic Zonation in Uttar Pradesh

Helps determine appropriate cropping patterns (e.g., Rice–Wheat in East U.P., Sugarcane–Wheat in West U.P.).
Enables judicious use of water and fertilizers according to zone.
Promotes soil conservation and sustainable practices.
Facilitates region-based agricultural research (e.g., maize and pulse research in Bundelkhand).
Supports climate-resilient farming strategies.

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